ASH President Responds to President Trump’s Proposal to Cut One in Five Dollars to NIH, Public Health Programs

Published on: May 23, 2017

(WASHINGTON, May 23, 2017) — American Society of Hematology President Kenneth C. Anderson, MD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, responded to the White House’s fiscal year (FY) 2018 budget request, which proposes a $7.18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 21% of the FY17 allocation:

“President Trump’s proposal to cut NIH’s FY18 budget by over $7 billion is a devastating blow to the advancement of medical science. NIH is the largest global funder of biomedical research, and without adequate funding, advancement toward treatments and cures for many diseases and cancers will not happen. The Administration’s proposed cut of one in every five dollars to this vital agency would dramatically reduce NIH’s ability to fund basic science research in universities and labs across the United States. Not only does every dollar invested by NIH yield an estimated $8.38 in economic growth, but it also funds the research that leads to cures and therapies that keep Americans alive and healthy.

“ASH was pleased to see bipartisan support from Congress in the FY17 budget, which increased NIH’s funding by $2 billion, and again calls on lawmakers to demonstrate their robust support for biomedical research by passing a budget with appropriate funding for NIH.

“ASH is also concerned that the president’s budget proposal cuts Medicaid by $610 billion over the course of a decade. Medicaid is critical for patients with sickle cell disease, an inherited chronic hematologic disorder affecting nearly 100,000 Americans who often experience lifelong complications including stroke, acute chest syndrome, organ damage, and other disabilities. Furthermore, Medicaid covers approximately 30 percent of the bleeding disorders community, which includes diseases such as hemophilia and von Willebrand Disease.

“The president’s proposed FY18 funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would cut nearly $1 billion from current levels. CDC has a role in preventing and understanding blood diseases and disorders, including sickle cell disease and bleeding and blood clotting disorders. We encourage Congress to pass a final FY18 budget that gives CDC adequate funding to continue this important work.

“Congress must also pass legislation to lift sequestration caps on discretionary non-defense spending, which are scheduled to return in FY2018. ASH is eager to work with Congress to ensure that our nation is invested in non-defense programs alongside our defense initiatives. Providing sustainable, predictable funding for public health will fuel economic growth, reduce future health care costs, and ensure that the United States remains competitive, safe, and secure.”

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) ( www.hematology.org) is the world’s largest professional society of hematologists dedicated to furthering the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood. For more than 50 years, the Society has led the development of hematology as a discipline by promoting research, patient care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. ASH publishes Blood ( www.bloodjournal.org), the most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field, which is available weekly in print and online. In 2016, ASH launched Blood Advances ( www.bloodadvances.org), an online, peer-reviewed open-access journal.